A cadre of local cheflebrities and their epicurious school-age helpers want to wine and dine you with world cuisines April 26 at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel.

Art Smith, owner/operator of Art and Soul restaurant here on Capitol Hill and founder of Chicago-based nonprofit Common Threads, is hosting the second annual fundraiser this year. The multitalented toque-turned-philanthropist has famously fed the likes of everyone from Oprah Winfrey to President Barack Obama.

Washington, D.C., program coordinator Susan Reilly said the group raised about $100,000 during last year’s inaugural “world festival,” and it hopes to exceed that goal this year. Tickets for the three-hour tasting are $150 per person.

According to Reilly, 100 percent of the funds collected in D.C. are redirected to the four schools Common Threads partners with locally:

The group accommodates about 75 low-income students between all four locations (16-18 kids per class) during each session. The after-school program runs during the spring and fall, with each hands-on cooking course running about 10 weeks.

“We feel like the kids really walk away with some in-depth life skills,” Reilly said, citing the program’s emphasis on sound nutrition and personal responsibility.